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I'm looking to compete in the 165 lb class, but I think I need to put on another 5-10 lbs of muscle before I can start being competitive at the national level in the USAPL. Achieving national glory hardly motivates me, but I feel as though it gives me direction and keeps my ego and thought process (wrt training intensity/volume) in check.

Oh, and I chose the title "Welcome to the Asylum" because I feel it portrays me as a person. I am very much an anomaly based on societal expectations for my age and occupation (19 y/o college student); I lift heavy weights, scream and tend to have different hobbies and expectations than my classmates.

Notes: I had a crazy back pump today. Overreached wrt to volume a bit today, but I know my body will be fine. Today's my start of getting back to training 4 times a week and I decided this would be the correct way to get back in the groove. On top of that, it's my birthday this weekend and I will definitely be in a caloric surplus tomorrow and Sunday. Moreover, I won't be drinking or staying up late with friends since they're all back at school, so my recovery should be on point (I LOVE being young). A friend at school showed me this Anello deadlift cycle and I decided I'd give it a try seeing as though my deadlift progress has been disappointing over the past six months.

Notes: So I actually did this workout on impulse at 1AM this morning because I couldn't sleep. Given the circumstances, it was a great workout. I devote Saturdays to working on lagging bodyparts that don't get the attention they need during the week (chest and shoulders in particular). My goal is to increase strength endurance and volume before I get into some progressive overload on Saturdays; my body's gotten too accustomed to low volume for pressing work and I think that could be a major factor that is hindering my progress. Most sets outside of the 3 board work were in the 10-20 rep range with plenty of time under tension.

Notes: Today was my birthday! I'm 20! No better way to spend my birthday than in the gym having fun. I am looking to implement more CAT (Compensatory Acceleration Training) into my regime because I am definitely lacking in that area on squats in particular. Sam Byrd and Chad Wesley Smith are huge advocates of CAT for raw lifters and have written articles on JTSstrength.com if anyone is interested. As a natural lifter, I think it will also help me stay injury-free and not tax my body/CNS as much as heavy training week-in-week-out does, too. The front squat finisher was absolutely brutal as I didn't look out at the top to keep the tension on the muscle and bring some hypertrophy work in; I didn't count, but I definitely got at least 40 reps

I washed this workout down with a nice 24 oz ribeye, half a loaf of garlic bread, pickles, and potatoes at one of the local taverns called Arthur's-by far one of my most favorite establishments.